West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-06-09
MISS MINTONS MASTER

ulICC MIN lON - lAOl En-,
Miss Minton was regarded by all her
friends as a model woman, save for one
eccentricity. To begin with, she was
pretty, with a red-lippcd, hazel eyed,
rosy prettiness that admitted OF no oucs-
tion; her temper was admirable, her in
telligcnce fair, her attainmcnts were
more than respectable, her family was
good, and her fortune comfortable
though not unwieldy. Then, too. as
daughter neighbor, friend and hostess
She was allowed, even by the most cap
tlous, to discharge the whole duty of
woman-latterly more, for after her
father was stricken with paralysis of his
right arm he would trust his busincs to
none but Grace, who, having a clear head
and ready pen, proved herself an efficient
substitute, and won golden opinions
from all with whom the arrangement
brought her in contact; and they were
not few nor simple, for Milton perc bred
blood horses that went pretty we'll all
over the South country; in fact, his six
hundrcd-acre farm with its velvet past
ures and clcan-limbcd, glossy herd, had a
reputation almost national, and was quite
the pride OF Rowan County, where il
lay; so, first and last, Miss Minton saw
and knew much more of the great out
side world than falls to the lot Of most
housekeeping provincial maidens. And
that made the ecCcntricity all the more
pronounced; for, you see, it Law in the
fact that she did not marry after
the prccipitate fashion of her five elder
sisters, none Of whom had seen twenty.
single and Grace in spite Of much bet
ter opportunities, at, twcuty-seven was
Grace Minton still-wilfully and with
malice prcponse, for there was scarcely
month in the year that some most eligi-
bic widowcr or unimpeachable bachelor
did not all at once stop visiting Maple
wood, the Minton farm and most usually
the loss Of ono was the gain of another.
for, though Miss Minton was no coauette.
she did not think it necessary to hide the
light OF her charms under the bushcl of
unapproachability in order to save sinocd
wings TO many who she shrcwdly sus-
pccted were drawn quite as much by the
shining Of her ten-thouSand- dollar lcoacv
as by the effulgence of the charms alore-
said.
Besides, have observed that course
of brothcri in-law is apt to make bright
girl critical in the matter Of her own
future; and Grace's experience in this
line had been wide, varied, and not alto
gether rcassuring. For of the five whom
she saw in the bosom of their families
though there was none cOnspicuously dis
agreeable. all had enough small hateful
nesses per square inch h-pctty tyrannics
and cNaCting weaknesses revolt ti,e
brave, bright soul that shonc in her
hazel eyes, and make her sometimes de-
clare in her own heart that entire and
perfect manliness was the rarest thing in
the world.
OF course she confined the declaration
entirely to those limits, or her
matrimonial prospects--moncy to tho
contrary Notwithstanding would have
gone below zero. There is nothing The
average so rcsents ina woman as truth
ful, hence unflattcring, criticism of him
self and his compccrs. So Grace Minton
wisely kept her own counsel, aud had
lovers TO laugh at or pity, according 10
her humOr, or what She THOUGHT was
their impclling motivc and wien tho
brothers in-law, after their won't rallied
her on impending spinscrhood. She only
laughed and told them her father had
spoiled her 20 droadfully, she was afraid
to marry until She found a man able 70
make her mind him and willing not 10
do Il rs she most dcvouily believed
man should be fully the head Of the
house, and knew she could never rcepcct
one who WAS less, yet dearly loved her
own way.
Maplcwood lies in region Of softly
swelling hills well wooded and vatercd
by small, clear creeks tlut rum down to
the near river. The country is tbrco-
four,hs cleared and largely Set in orass.
IA Tact, bluegrass grows there 0uifc a.
well 1e in the Blue grass rcpi6p.0 A
FAIR and smiling land full OF roomv
handsome houses. biz barns. and tail.
clear fcucca with hard white turnpikcs
winding through and through one OF
them ron past the cato at
haplcwooJ, cutting OH from tho main
farm y hundred acres Of pasture.
through which thread Of briplit water
wound DO laughing way. under shadows
OF elm, ash and sycamore. past banks of
clean pebbles or green. nowerv turf
llithcr in mid May camc the glossy wear
ling- from thc homo pastures there 10 de
velopc strength aud speed, and stay. ON
fair wafer and lush grass. throughout the
bright hot summer. and bithcr Grace
Mintpn. riding in hcr fathers stead slow
ly. VIII icin welt iu hand. and bripht.
closc-look'ny eyes found an animal that.
nftcr his fashion shovel fairly beside
her thorDurhb,rde
a iail young man, 1.-the and we'll made.
with wet golden hair and "a look of pa
ticnt hunger iu Dis wcll-cut fncc. Sat
bmc' clded on a gray rock in the fuI
sun blaze, wet shirt SO clinain0 10
chest, arms aud shoulders as to show thc
physique of an athlete ON the gras.
back of nim Iay awijc, soft hat 20 coat
well cat and of good material. but fravcI
and worn. und small Ruesin leather
bag open and empty Ivc for q few pa
pcr pa.p.ug from Che inner pocket A
tramp. evidently whose noms5ie life
had not set obltcra,cd the instincts of
cleanliness or decency, as he had deemed